Tough times ahead as Kiambu proposes to raise county fees and charges for the Fiscal year 2018-19.

Kiambu seeks double the parking fees in Zone A towns of Thika, Kiambu, Ruiru and Kikuyu from Ksh. 50 to Ksh. 100 per day.

Kiambu Finance CEC Wilson Mburu Kang’ethe has tabled a budget
proposal at the county assembly seeking to adjust upwards various county fees
and charges.

In his 2018-2019 budgetary proposals, Kang’ethe seeks double
the parking fees in some of the county’s major towns as part of the government’s
measures to increase its revenue to supplement its Ksh. 15.62 billion budget.

If approved by the house, the street parking fees in Thika,
Kiambu, Ruiru and Kikuyu towns that have been categorised as Zone A will be adjusted
upwards from Ksh. 50 to Ksh. 100 per day.

“This has been prompted by the fact that many residents park
their cars within these towns and travel to Nairobi by public means because
parking charges there are Ksh. 300 per day,” Kang’ethe told the house on
Wednesday.

The CEC added that they hoped to raise about Ksh. 319
million through parking fees.

In what can be referred to as an about-turn by the Kiambu
Government, the CEC proposes to introduce fees for hawking, market traders,
salons and barbershops which were previously exempted from any operational
fees. The move targets to raise Ksh. 78.6 million up from the Ksh. 46 million
collected in 2017.

Also affected are the Single Business Permits where the
minister intends to increase their rates so as to raise about Ksh. 262 million.

Kiambu is also targeting to raise about Ksh. 423.2 million
from property rates and rents up from an estimated revenue of Ksh. 226.7
million in 2017.

Kang’ethe told the house that the county intended to modernise
and upgrade the existing county houses that currently sat on very prime lands
with an eye to increasing their monthly rents.

The county also targets to raise an estimated Ksh. 545
million from its health sector with emphasis on the completion of Thogoto,
Wangige, Tigoni, Lari, Bibirioni and Githunguri hospitals to cover the deficit.

In the Agriculture and Livestock Department, the minister
expects to raise Ksh. 128 million this fiscal year compared to Ksh. 82 million
last year.